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How Scotland Has Transformed Over The Years

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The first recorded history of Scotland began with the Roman Empire, who established the southern portion of Great Britain as the Roman province of Britannia. Eventually, the Romans abandoned Britannia, leaving at least two indigenous peoples behind: The Picts in the north east and the Celtic Britons in the south. The history of Scotland was a tumultuous one, beginning with the invasion of the Gaels, the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse in the 5th to 8th century. The Picts and Scots joined forces under the threat of invasion, assimilating the two peoples together. Few traces of the Pictish people remain to this day; the Daniel stone cross slab fragment found in Rosmarkie, Easter Ross is a relic to this enigmatic people. The Kingdom of Scotland was established in the 9th century, which grew to be a thriving kingdom which relied heavily on seafaring trade routes with the rest of Europe. Legend has it that the first king of a united Scotland, Kenneth MacAlpin, rose to power at the “black dinner” which involved an assassination plot against the other Pictish nobles at a dinner with traps set beneath their seats. Centuries later, Kenneth MacAlpin’s descendant Malcolm II (reigned 1005-18) successfully defeated the Northumbrian Angles in the Battle of Carham. This historic victory brought Lothian and Edinburgh under Scottish rule and expanded Scottish territory to Tweed.

Malcolm III Canmore (reigned 1058-93) and his queen Saint Margaret of Scotland, was credited to have founded a strong dynasty of Scottish rulers. Their rule introduced the Anglo-Norman religion and systems of government to the Scottish people. Later on, Malcolm III was immortalized by Shakespeare in the iconic play, after his father Duncan was assassinated by MacBeth.

The tragic death of Alexander III in 1286 resulted in dispute over the Scottish throne. Although there were thirteen claimants to the throne, the choice fell to Robert de Brus and John Balliol. Edward I of England, was asked to arbitrate the negotiations and chose Balliol. In a sorted story of betrayal, Balliol turned against Edward I and allied Scotland with France, beginning the Auld Alliance which later ushered in the Wars of Independence. Here enters Scotland’s most tragic hero, William Wallace, whose motley crew of rebels were credited for defeating the English army in the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. He was later knighted and charged as the Guardian of Scotland; however, he lost a major battle at Falkirk and went into exile in Europe. Upon his return to his native Scotland, he was betrayed by Scottish nobles and executed in 1305. After Wallace’s death, Robert the Bruce, defied Edward who he had previously allied himself with, murdered his rival John Comyn. Later he crowned himself king of Scotland at Scone in 1306.

The House of Stewart came into power after the death of Robert the Bruce in 1329. James IV (reigned 1488-1513) married the daughter of Henry VII of England, linking the two royal families in the Marriage of the Thistle and the Rose. Scotland flourished under James IV’s reign, the finest samples of Scottish architecture were produced during this period, many of these examples can be found in the palaces at Holyrood, Linlithgow, Falkland and Stirling.

Mary, the future Queen of Scots, was born to King James V in 1542. She would later become one of the most turbulent and tragic figure in Scottish history. James V died a few days after her birth, leaving Mary to inherit the throne as Queen of Scots. She was later sent to France where she married the French dauphin to become the queen of France and Scotland. Upon the death of her husband, the teenaged Mary, returned to Scotland in 1561 and was welcomed in its capital city as Scotland’s queen. The next years of Mary’s rule was riddled with jaded lovers and conspiracies which eventually resulted in her execution at the hands of her cousin Elizabeth I. Mary’s infant son, James VI (reigned 1567-1625), was crowned king while a series of regents ruled in his place. Upon the death of Elizabeth I, James VI of Scotland became James I and the ruler of a united Great Britain. Civil war would later tear through Scotland until 1707 when the kingdoms of Scotland and Great Britain were formally united under the terms of the Acts of Union.

Silicon Glen: The History of Scotland’s High Tech Sector

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Move over Silicon Valley because Scotland has its own high tech sector. While not technically a glen as it covers a much wider area than just one valley, it is one of Scotland’s most bustling, technological advancement sectors covering anything from the manufacturing of semiconductors to research and development with wireless internet service providers.

Tracing its origins back to as early as 1943, Silicon Glen was home to plants for UK electrical engineering corporations like Ferranti but other corporations soon followed suit including popular computer company IBM, the Motorola multinational telecommunications company and even Rockstar North; developers of more than a few video games you or your children may be familiar with. Do the GTA or Lemmings franchises ring any bells? Today the area continues to grow with both companies and activity. Motorola, one of the leading providers of smartphone technology, cable television and wireless broadband networks, is no longer there but as the industry moves forward, the names and faces of companies are always changing.

Whether you’re a tourist or a citizen and whether your interests are in wireless internet or electronics in general; should you ever find yourself in Scotland then you really ought to give Edinburgh a try.

Scottish History Abounds In The Town Of Melrose

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Scottish History Abounds In The Town Of Melrose

The Scottish town of Melrose is filled with both Celtic and Roman history. Roman and pre-Iron Age ruins are abundant in the Tweed Valley and near the River Tweed. In the north west of Melrose stands one of the unique Scottish dry-stone round towers, Torwoodlee. This land was inhabited by the broch-lairds who may have been put there by the Romans to watch over the sheep pastures. The historic Melrose Abbey also lies in this town. The heart of Robert the Bruce, a Scottish king, is buried in this abbey. That is not the only famous burial, however. It is said that the final resting place of King Arthur is in the Eildon Hills, overlooking the town.

There are several historic towers in Melrose, used during the Border conflicts. One group of three towers nearby in Darnick has only one remaining, the Darnick Tower, which overlooks the village. To the north west, there were three more towers, two of which remain and have been restored. The Smailholme Tower is arguably the most famous, as it was the home of a young Sir Walter Scott. It is open to the public and offers amazing views at the top.

Fun And Intriguing Facts About Scottish History

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Scotland has almost 800 islands, only 130 of which have inhabitants on them. Scotland itself is actually very small, it has water on three sides and the only land border is with England. In the summer months, June through July, the sun can last past 9 p.m. During the summer Scotland has many festivals and sporting events. The Highland Games take place in August. There are many different events like kiddie rides, pipe bands, tug-of-warm, battle re-enactment, and much more. During the winter months Scotland has great skiing as well. The people of Scotland are actually very warm and friendly in the daunting winter months. Scotland is home to the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. Scotland’s landscape is full of castles, all with their own story behind them. One very interesting and fun fact is that St. Patrick is thought to be Irish, but he is actually Scottish. He has said to have been taken from his family and put into Irish slavery. There are many iconic places to visit in Scotland including The Stone of Destiny, which is said to hold great importance to the Scottish for over 700 years. Scotland is full of history and beauty, and while visiting there many things to no matter what time of year you are there.You thought this was good? Brace yourself: Scottish cities stand out for praise from lonely Planet

The History Of The Brig O’Balgownie Bridge

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Bridge of Don or The Brig o’ Balgownie Bridge was built in the 13Th century in Scotland. The arched bridge looks like a bishops miter with the conical center shape. The Bridge of Don was built to cross the River Don in Aberdeen, Scotland. Since Scotland was a Christian country at the time, the architecture chosen was not Roman but influenced by Christian symbolism and is said to have been designed by a bishop. The Bridge of Don was started by Richard Cementarius in the 13Th century. It was not finished until the 14Th century during the Scottish War of Independence.
The Bridge of Don was completely rebuilt in 1605. It was considered a very important military structure to move armies into the area. From the time it was finished being built in 1320 until the 16Th century, The Bridge of Don was the fastest avenue to move battalions into Aberdeen shire. It was also used as a trade route to Northeast Scotland which was a very wealthy place.
The Brig O’Balgownie Bridge is one of Scotland’s ancient sites as is The University of Aberdeen or King’s College, Scotland’s third oldest University. The architecture of The Bridge of Don is quite unique because of its arched center.

The Rich History Of The Town Of Edinburgh

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The area around Edinburgh has been settled at least since the Bronze Age. Later, when the Romans arrived, the Celts were already established in the vicinity. Over the following centuries, the Edinburgh area was influenced by Angles, Picts, and the Scots, who finally gained permanent control around AD 950. The town itself probably came into official existence some time in the 11th century, and King David I of Scotland granted land to a church there in 1124.

Edinburgh flourished under Scottish control, and became the capital of the kingdom in 1437. The town became the cultural and intellectual centre of Scotland, and was the seat of the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century. When King James VI of Scotland became King of England in 1603, the two countries were united. The Parliament of Scotland continued to meet in Edinburgh for the next 100 years, until the Acts of Union were passed in 1707 and the Parliament of Scotland was merged with its English counterpart. The city was captured by Cromwell during the Civil War, and by the Jacobites during Bonnie Prince Charlie-s uprising.

Through the centuries, Edinburgh has been an intellectual Mecca. John Knox, a major leader of the Scottish Reformation, spent much of his life there. David Hume, Adam Smith, and Charles Darwin all lived there at one time or another. Writers in residence included Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Scientists with a connection to Edinburgh include James Clerk Maxwell and Alexander Graham Bell.